A nurse says goodbye to 'Granny'
Plus: Your guide to the week's big stories — New studies boost odds of reopening classrooms; Belk plans bankruptcy; City Council applicants; High school sports to resume; Greg Olsen retires
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For 10 months, Covid nurse Tiffany Pennington cared for patients in a Pineville ICU. Then her own grandmother fell ill with the virus.
Tiffany Pennington and her grandfather held her grandmother’s hand and FaceTimed family members as her grandmother clung to life in a Columbia hospital. “It gave me some peace to be there and be supportive for her, to give her back the love and support she’s given me all my life,” Pennington said. (Photo courtesy of Tiffany Pennington)
by Cristina Bolling
For the last 10 months, Tiffany Pennington has been caring for Covid patients as an ICU nurse at Atrium Health Pineville, witnessing the extremes of the coronavirus: debilitating sickness, miraculous recovery and death.
On Jan. 7, she found herself masked, gowned and gloved at yet another Covid bedside. This time, though, her grandmother was the patient, and the bed was in a Columbia, S.C., hospital.
For the next four days, Pennington was given the gift that most family of Covid patients could only hope for — the ability to sit beside her 79-year-old grandmother as she endured the virus’ physical and emotional rollercoaster.
For Pennington, it was a new role in Covid caregiving — to simply be at the bedside to comfort and support.
What she didn’t anticipate was how four days in that role would make her a better nurse.
‘My greatest fear’: Carol Long, or “Granny,” as her family calls her, was Pennington’s biggest cheerleader. She was always in the stands at sporting events and graduations, and the first person Pennington would dial while driving home after her shifts in the Pineville ICU.
Long loved being around people, so ever since Covid started spreading last March, Pennington made it a point to constantly remind her of the dangers of the virus.
“I was trying to almost scare her, so she wouldn’t be too freely running around the neighborhood,” Pennington says.
On Christmas Eve, Pennington got the news she’d feared for months: Long called to say that she and Pennington’s grandfather, Kenneth, were feeling extremely fatigued, and that two family members they live with had tested positive for Covid.
By Christmas Day, their exhaustion was worse.
They got tested, and Kenneth’s test came back positive. Carol’s test never came back and was apparently lost, but doctors said to assume she had Covid.
On Jan. 5, the Longs were scheduled to receive medicines given to Covid patients at high risk for complications called anti-monoclonal antibody infusions. But when they arrived at the appointment, Carol Long’s oxygen and blood pressure readings had plummeted.
She was admitted to the hospital. No family members were allowed inside, so the family decided that Pennington, although she lived 90 miles away, would be the hospital’s point of contact.
Tiffany Pennington (center) was able to guide her grandmother, Carol Long (left) through her final days with Covid because of Pennington’s experience as an ICU nurse who cares for Covid patients. “She’s been my go-to person, always, throughout my entire life,” Pennington says. On the right is Pennington’s grandfather, Kenneth Long. The Longs were together for 40 years. (Photo courtesy of Tiffany Pennington)
The other end of the phone call: For the next two days, Pennington juggled her hospital shifts, her duties at home caring for her kids, 6-year-told Titus and 3-year-old Tinsley, and keeping tabs on Long’s care.
When they talked by phone, Pennington could tell Long was getting progressively more winded and weary.
Pennington was growing more anxious.
She worried she’d miss a call from Long’s doctor or nurse while she was taking care of her own patients. If a nurse said she’d call back “in a little bit,” Pennington’s mind raced. When is a little bit? Is that a minute? An hour? Two hours?
She made a mental note to remember those desperate, confused feelings when dealing with her own patients’ families: Don’t get annoyed when relatives don’t answer. Be understanding when families call multiple times during a shift; they feel out of control and terrified that they may never see their loved one again. Give families a window for when you’ll call, and stick to it — otherwise, they’ll fear the worst.
On Jan. 7, Pennington was at work when a doctor called to say that Long had had a rough night. She’d experienced atrial fibrillation (a rapid heartbeat), had pulled off her high-flow oxygen mask and was anxious.
Pennington knew those things meant her condition was worsening.
She and the doctor discussed treatment options, and before she hung up the phone, she summoned the courage to make a big request:
“Sir? I work with Covid patients. I would be more than happy to come and sit with her. I won’t be in y’all’s way,’” she told the doctor.
He seemed open to the idea. Pennington was shocked. But he’d have to run it up the chain and call her back.
Her phone rang 5 hours later: She could come.
She raced home after her hospital shift, tossed some clothes in a bag, kissed her husband Terry goodbye, and told Titus and Tinsley she’d be back once Granny was done with her fight.
Granddaughter on a mission: Long was asleep when Pennington arrived, but once she awoke, Pennington could see how anxious and restless she was, trying to rip off the mask for her BiPAP machine that was forcing oxygen into her lungs.
Pennington coached Long through panic attacks, holding her hand and locking her gaze. She urged Long to turn her fear into motivation.
“I’m glad you’re here with me,” her grandmother said, over and over.
Pennington was a granddaughter on a mission to get her grandmother well. IV lines wouldn’t allow for walking, so she had Long march in place next to her bed. She kept making her breathe into a machine that exercises the lungs, known as an incentive spirometer.
She had to stifle her muscle memory that wanted to change IV bags and fetch medications, and instead busied her hands with mundane tasks like taking out garbage and turning off IV pumps when IV bags were empty.
She asked questions of the medical team and sometimes offered suggestions based on what she’d experienced with her patients in Pineville. The nurses saw that Long’s breathing would improve with her granddaughter there to calm her. They brought Pennington a recliner so she’d be more comfortable.
Pennington knew that Covid patients as sick as her grandmother rarely come home. But then her thoughts would turn to the miracles she’s seen in her ICU — patients that defied the odds and survived.
One minute, she’d text her family: “It’s not looking good.” And then a few hours later: “She has a chance, if she could just have another good 12 hours.”
Granny’s final days: On Pennington’s third day with Long, she could tell her grandmother was wearing out.
“I’m so tired, Tiffany,” Long would say.
“I know, Granny. Give me 12 more hours,” Pennington would reply.
Long’s supplemental oxygen was turned up as high as it would go, and she had signed a do-not-resuscitate order that made it clear she did not want to be intubated.
Pennington continually asked her: Are you sure that’s what you want, Granny?
Yes, her grandmother would reply.
By the morning of Pennington’s fourth day in Columbia, Long’s breathing sped up, her heart rate became erratic and she was restless.
Pennington flashed back to the patients she’s taken care of and realized — this is how they look right before they need to be intubated.
She called her grandfather to come.
(The Columbia hospital where Long was being treated had a policy, like many other hospitals, to allow family members to be present with patients when death is imminent.)
The doctor counseled: Intubation is still an option. She’s unable to make the decision — you can go against her wishes.
Pennington flinched. As a nurse, she’d silently question a family’s decision to intubate someone so sick, given that patients like her grandmother have such a slim chance of surviving after intubation.
But as a granddaughter? She was tempted to ask the doctors to intubate, if it would give her grandmother one last chance.
However, she didn’t. She and her grandfather decided to begin end-of-life comfort care.
Nurses administered morphine and Pennington called family members on FaceTime so Long could hear their voices and they could see her face. They removed Long’s BiPAP mask, sat beside her bed, and held her hands as she peacefully slipped away.
Gaining insight: Pennington returned to work six days later, and colleagues enveloped her in support. Members of Atrium-Pineville’s spiritual care team came to find out how she was doing.
Before her grandmother got sick, Pennington says she thought about taking a break from nursing when the days seemed too much to bear.
“But then, I’d look around and I’d say, ‘We are making an impact on people, and there’s no better team than what we have,’” she says.
Now, there’s something else to consider. She’s gained insight on what it’s like to be on the other end of those hospital phone calls, and the one who must decide whether to let a loved one surrender their fight.
“I saw what it’s like to be the patient’s family, to look at what’s going on here in the nursing world from the outside,” Pennington said.
It was an experience that Pennington says she’s still processing. It’s one that she says has changed some aspects of how she cares for Covid patients, given her more compassion for the desperation family members endure and made her grateful for the place where she works.
Her grief hits her especially hard during the drives home from work, when she realizes she can’t dial Granny up and hear her voice again. But she feels blessed that they had those final days together. Days that, she says, have made her a better nurse.
Cristina Bolling is managing editor of The Ledger: cristina@cltledger.com
Related article:
The exhausting, rewarding work of a nurse who helps Covid patients. In May, The Ledger wrote an article about Pennington’s work in the Atrium Health Pineville ICU, where she cares for Covid patients.
Today’s supporting sponsor is Soni Brendle:
This week in Charlotte: Revised Mecklenburg directive paves the way for school reopening; why podcasts are so big; final vote tally shows Biden won most Charlotte precincts
On Saturdays, The Ledger sifts through the local news of the week and links to the top articles — even if they appeared somewhere else. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.
Politics
City Council replacement: (WSOC) The city received 143 applications to fill the City Council vacancy created when James Mitchell stepped down this month. The city clerk’s office determined that only 103 were eligible, though, because the replacement must be a registered Democrat who lives in Charlotte. The City Council is expected to choose from among that group on Monday.
Biden swept almost all of Charlotte: (WFAE) A final tally of votes in the presidential election shows Joe Biden won all but 2 precincts in Charlotte, including traditionally Republican precincts in Myers Park, along Providence Road and Ballantyne. The new data mirrors national trends in which Donald Trump did worse than in 2016 in suburban areas but also did slightly better in precincts dominated by minority voters.
Education
Covid transmission in schools: (Ledger) As new national studies by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that Covid transmission in schools seems to be low, a Duke pediatrics professor explains her research in North Carolina school systems that shows similar results. (Full interview 🔒)
County alters school reopening recommendation: (Ledger) Mecklenburg County extended its Covid directive on Thursday but removed the recommendation against in-person classes — which could pave the way for reopening public schools to students. The school board is expected to discuss the issue Feb. 9.
N.C. officials split over how to address racism: (WFAE) State education officials have been gridlocked over drafting a new state social studies curriculum, largely due to disputes over the terms “racism,” “gender,” and “identity.” Some feel the revisions represent “political dogma” and paint too much of a picture of America as an oppressor. Others argue that complacency in education allows systemic racism in society to continue to flourish.
Local news
Carowinds to open in May: (Observer) Carowinds amusement park announced it will reopen May 22 with limited capacity and safety protocols. The park did not open for its 2020 season but reopened in November and December for a holiday outdoor event, with some rides running.
Business
Analyzing Belk’s bankruptcy plan: (Ledger 🔒) Charlotte department store chain Belk says it plans to file for bankruptcy protection, a move that will allow it to slice its debt and reorganize its finances. The Ledger’s Tony Mecia breaks down what that means, exactly, and what is likely to happen next.
GameStop mania: (Ledger 🔒) The big national business news this week was stock market gyrations involving internet chat boards, memes, hedge fund losses and online brokerages. In Charlotte, The Ledger brought you a story about an N.C. State freshman asking his financial adviser dad’s advice on day trading in GameStop. And we explored what the hedge-fund losses by two of Michael Jordan’s business partners might mean for the Charlotte Hornets.
Sports
High school sports to resume: (WCNC) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools said high school sports can resume after the county’s Covid directive expires on Feb. 2. Swimmers can compete in regional meets on Feb. 5, and other sports and extracurricular activities can continue Feb. 8. Football can also start practices on time. County health director Gibbie Harris said Friday that she recommended CMS delay restarting sports but that the district makes its own decisions.
Greg Olsen retires: (WBTV) Former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen announced his retirement from the NFL on Sunday and says he’ll join Fox Sports as a commentator. Olsen spent nine seasons with the Panthers and is the team’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards for a tight end, making three Pro Bowls.
Good reads
Podcasting is hot: (Ledger) Name a topic, no matter how niche, and chances are there’s a podcast for that. Despite being around for nearly two decades, podcasts have exploded in popularity. This deep dive by Ely Portillo looks at the podcast landscape in Charlotte and reveals that, while they’re valuable marketing channels, they’re not the revenue producers some might think.
How a Charlotte native wound up on SNL: (Observer) Lauren Holt wasn’t expecting the call, because who would be? The 29-year-old Charlotte native debuted on “Saturday Night Live” on Oct. 3, becoming one of just 156 people to be selected to be SNL cast members since the show’s 1975 premiere. This profile explains how it happened.
Ledger originals
Better sleep, more meaning: This week’s installments of “A Better You in 2021” gave you tips on sleeping better from Novant Health sleep expert Dr. Nancy Behrens (Wednesday 🔒)— and suggestions of how to set a course for your life that’s more meaningful and effective, from Mike Whitehead of the Center for Intentional Leadership (Friday 🔒).
Natural gas bills: (Wednesday 🔒) Many Charlotte residents are recoiling at the arrival of sharply higher natural gas bills — the result of a combination of factors including a colder December and higher gas prices.
Vaccine’s next phases: (Wednesday 🔒) Atrium Health and Novant Health have started collecting information from patients online as they look ahead toward vaccinating additional groups. Priority in future stages will be largely determined by your job — and it looks as though eligibility will be mostly on the honor system.
‘We’ll shut the economy down’: (Monday) County commission chairman George Dunlap, frustrated by criticism of the county’s Covid directive, told a commission meeting last week: “This is in lieu of shutting the place down. … If [Covid] gets bad enough in some of these townships, then they will join with Mecklenburg County, and we’ll shut the whole place down, and we’ll shut the economy down. But we’re not trying to do that. We don’t want to do that.”
Quotable: A ringing endorsement for Ledger’s 40 Over 40
John Short, co-host of “The Charlotte Podcast,” in an episode this week:
Speaking of over the hill, with one foot in the grave … the Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 is gearing up. … The Charlotte Ledger newsletter has their own awards for people that have probably paid off their student loans. There are going to be 40 people who are on their second car loan and have opinions on middle schools. This is the type of people we’re talking about. …
There are lots of old-ass people in the Charlotte community that want some recognition, too. And that’s what [they’re] going for with the Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40. …
I am very, very proud to say I’m not eligible for this. It is people you would call “Boomer.” It’s people who those new Progressive auto commercials are about, where they’re like, “The waiter doesn’t need to know your name.” That’s who we’re talking about here.
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